One strange beast of a tripod

[Mainecoonmaniac]

Over the weekend, I picked up a Benbo tripod. With one lever, I loosen all the legs. It's made by Patterson. Does anybody have any field experience with it? It's sure heavy.

 

[ruby.monkey]

I have the Uni-Loc that was developed from this. Someone once described working with these tripods as 'wrestling a drunken giraffe', and it's a pretty fair statement to begin with; but once you get used to it, setting up and taking it down becomes quick and easy. What I would strongly suggest is that you keep one hand on the beast at all times, should you be in the habit of collapsing your tripod with the camera still attached - there's no intermediate stage between 'rigid enough to support your bodyweight' and 'sprawled on the ground while you swear'.

 

[Jeff Kubach]

You are right, it is strange looking. But it looks do able. You should leave one hand on the tripod in the beggining just in case.

Jeff

 

[railwayman3]

I bought one about 20 years ago, seemed a great idea for its versatility. But I never got on with it, heavy and awkward, and, after two near disasters when ir collapsed with expensive cameras on top of it, it was relegated to the attic. Maybe I didn't persevere with it for long enough.
(I keep intending to offer it on Ebay, thanks for the reminder that I need to do that!)

 

[Jesper]

Some people like them but they take a lot of time to get used to and until then they are just awkward. Be prepared to swear a lot before you love it.

 

[Trask]

I recall that the "big" selling point of the Benbo what that is/was infinitely adjustable, in that you could arrange the legs however you wanted to adapt to rough or uneven terrain. And, of course, that it could be returned to its collapsed state very quickly. I looked at them at the time, but was always concerned by the issues that prior posters have mentioned.

 

[Dan Fromm]

I have a Benbo 3 tabletop tripod. The description I've read of setting up a Benbo is "like making love with an octopus." My baby Benbo isn't quite that bad but it is very limited and quite tippy. The tippiness is due to the difficulty of keeping the tripod/camera assembly's center of gravity over the triangle defined by the feet. Setting it up isn't that hard but learning how takes a little practice.

I've never had a larger Benbo or Uni-Loc. They sometimes appeal because the leg tubes are inverted -- smaller inside larger, and the larger tube is sealed at the bottom -- so that they can be set up in water without harm and because the locks are very positive. Against this, its easy to put the camera/tripod's center of gravity outside the triangle the feet define. And then over she goes. Not pursued because of limited load capacity.

 

[benjiboy]

I have one and putting it up at first is like trying to learn the bagpipes, it's called Benbo because the main component is a "bent bolt" the original idea was that of a company called Uniloc they are very versatile outdoor tripods but heavy.

 

[Mainecoonmaniac]

You have to tough as a Scot

I have one and putting it up at first is like trying to learn the bagpipes, it's called Benbo because the main component is a "bent bolt" the original idea was that of a company called Uniloc they are very versatile outdoor tripods but heavy.

You have to be tough as a Scot to play the bagpipe and put up this tripod. To me, I don't like my outdoor gear to be heavy. It's too heavy for me to hike with.